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Local Government Response to Public Record Requests: Ensuring Compliance With FOIA and State Public Record Laws

Navigating Impact of Evolving Technology on Public Record Requests, Balancing Transparency Against Privacy in Response Protocols

Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar with Q&A

This program is included with the Strafford CLE Pass. Click for more information.
This program is included with the Strafford All-Access Pass. Click for more information.

Conducted on Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Recorded event now available

or call 1-800-926-7926

This CLE course will provide guidance to municipal attorneys on developing and administering effective policies and procedures regarding public record requests. The panel will discuss the latest developments in federal, state and local laws addressing public access to government records, the impact of new and evolving technology in this area, and best practices for balancing government transparency against privacy concerns when designing response protocols.

Description

When municipalities receive requests from citizens or entities to review and copy public documents they created or have custody of, the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and comparable state laws mandate specific actions or responses. Failure to respond to requests for access to public records is unlawful.

Evolving technology and a corresponding surge in the volume of requests over the past decade has municipalities grappling with how to stay in compliance with the law in this area.

To minimize compliance missteps, local governments must develop and maintain policies and procedures outlining how to respond to public record requests for council meeting minutes, local ordinances, budgets, policies, audits and similar documents. The policies should clearly define what constitutes a “public record” subject to disclosure, the types of information exempt from disclosure, and a “reasonable amount of time” to respond to public record requests.

In creating and implementing such policies, municipal attorneys must balance the public interest in government transparency and openness against legitimate privacy and other confidentiality concerns.

Listen as our authoritative panel of municipal attorneys discusses their perspectives and recommended best practices for responding to public record requests without violating FOIA or related state laws.

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Outline

  1. Impact of evolving technology on public records requests—email, social media, etc.
  2. Developing and maintaining policies and procedures—best practices
  3. Balancing transparency vs. privacy
  4. Dealing with requests involving government trade secrets or confidential information

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key issues:

  • How has the growing use of technology impacted requests for access to public records?
  • What are the components of an effective municipal policy for responding to requests for public records?
  • How have municipalities balanced the public right to transparency against privacy concerns in implementing procedures for responding to public record requests?

Faculty

Kevin D. Batt
Kevin D. Batt

Counsel
Anderson & Kreiger

Mr. Batt represents public clients in general municipal, land use, environmental, energy and construction matters....  |  Read More

Gary W. Schons
Gary W. Schons

Of Counsel
Best Best & Krieger

As head of the firm’s Government Policy & Public Integrity practice, Mr. Schons counsels public...  |  Read More

Access Anytime, Anywhere

Strafford will process CLE credit for one person on each recording. All formats include course handouts.

To find out which recorded format will provide the best CLE option, select your state:

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